Bedford boys soccer scores in double-OT to tip Manchester Central

BEDFORD — Bedford High’s Alden Skillings got behind the Central defense on a throw-in and beat Manchester Central goalie Alec Patterson at point blank range to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 double-overtime win in the Division I season opener for both teams.

The goal came in the 93rd minute of play off a throw-in by Cory Wallace. “I saw Alden running down the field and the defense wasn’t paying attention,” said Wallace. “So I thought I might as well throw it over their heads. He got it.”

“Corey recognized their guys were kind of scrambling,” said Skillings.

Central coach Chris LaBerge said his defenders pulled up thinking the ball hit Skillings on the arm. “He thought it was a hand ball,” said LaBerge of the defensive player’s lapse that sprung Skillings free on the winning goal. “He checked up expecting a whistle and their guy finished.”

The game was hard fought and evenly matched with scoring chances coming rarely. Bedford had some great chances late but Patterson came up big to keep the game scoreless.

“I’m very proud of the way we played against a perennial championship contender like Central,” said Bedford coach Stuart Pepper. “It wasn’t played brilliantly but I think we deserved it on the chances that were created.”

LaBerge felt his team had the edge in play. “We carried the play all night long. I think we played fantastic,” he said. “I think we deserved to win. We dictated the play all night.”